How life has changed in Watford

Watford's population increased by about 10,600 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population passed 90,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Watford increased by 13.3%, from about 79,700 to 90,300.

The addition of just under 11,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Watford was home to, on average, 30 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it Eastof England's second-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Watford

Latest census data also show that the median age of Watford remained 35 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had a lower average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 2,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years.

About 15.0% of people in Watford are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Watford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Watford that rented privately increased from 9.7% to 20.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 16.2%, while the percentage of Watford households that owned their home decreased from 72.4% to 61.6%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 14.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Watford increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Watford, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Watford

In 2011, 17.9% of Watford residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 8.8% in 2001. The 9.1 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.8% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 71.9% of people in Watford said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 86.0% in 2001. About 5.8% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 2.7% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 2.1% to 3.4%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Watford increased by 9.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Watford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Watford

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Watford, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 5.6 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 23.0% of respondents in Watford said they had no religion, up from 17.4% in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.2% to 30.0%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 58.1% of respondents in Watford said they were Christian, down from 71.7% in 2001. About 10.6% said they were Muslim, up from 6.6% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Watford increased by 5.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and Watford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Watford residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.6% to 1.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Watford remained close to 1.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Watford by care, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

Watford saw Eastof England's third-largest rise in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just under one in three (32.5%) households in Watford had at least one dependent child, compared with 30.1% in 2001. The percentage with no children decreased from 60.1% to 58.1%.

Across the region, only St Albans (from 30.5% to 33.3%) and Thurrock (from 32.3% to 34.8%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of households with children.

During this period, Watford overtook 13 local authority areas, including Braintree and Central Bedfordshire, to become the Eastof England local authority area with the seventh-highest percentage of households with children.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changing relationships in Watford

The proportion of married people fell in Watford, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Eastof England, except Welwyn Hatfield and Fenland.

Every local authority area across Eastof England saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 54.2% to 49.9%.

During this period, Watford fell below Welwyn Hatfield, Harlow and Ipswich to become the Eastof England local authority area with the seventh-lowest percentage of married people.

The proportion of married people was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Watford

The percentage of Watford residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.4% to 2.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.2%, while the percentage of Watford residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91.1%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Watford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.8% to 4.1% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72.6% in 2001. The percentage of Watford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.6% to 11.0%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Watford decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Watford, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Watford, which comprised a single parent, increased from 8.4% to 10.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (33.4%) households had a married couple, compared with 35.9% in 2001. The percentage of households in Watford, which comprised a cohabiting couple, decreased from 10.5% to 10.1%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Watford increased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Watford, Eastof England and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Watford residents that were unemployed increased from 2.5% to 4.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (58.7%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 60.5% in 2001. The percentage of Watford residents that were self-employed increased from 8.6% to 10.4%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Watford increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Watford, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Watford working less than 16 hours increased from 1.7% to 2.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 12.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Watford increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Watford, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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